Museums in Kyoto · Higashiyama–Shichijo

Kyoto National Museum

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Kyoto National Museum opened in 1897 to preserve and share the cultural treasures held by the old capital's temples and shrines. Its French-inspired red-brick Meiji Kotokan faces the modern Heisei Chishinkan gallery designed by architect Taniguchi Yoshio. From Buddhist sculptures and painted scrolls to ceramics and textiles, the museum reveals what Kyoto's artists created and what successive generations chose to preserve.

Hours, admission and access

Hours

During Heisei Chishinkan Collection Gallery and garden-only periods: 9:30–17:00, Fridays 9:30–20:00. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Special exhibition October 6–November 29, 2026: 9:00–17:30, Fridays 9:00–20:00. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.

Closed

Mondays (open on national holidays, closed the following Tuesday instead). Closed December 28, 2026–January 1, 2027. Additional temporary closures may apply.

Admission

Collection Galleries: adults ¥700, university students ¥350; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 or older free. Garden-only admission: adults ¥300, university students ¥150; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 or older free. Special exhibition The Tale of Genji: The Splendor of the Imperial Court (October 6–November 29, 2026): adults ¥2,200, university students ¥1,200, high school students ¥700, junior high school students and younger free.

Access

Approximately 7 minutes east on foot from Shichijo on the Keihan Main Line. From Kyoto, take Kyoto City Bus 206 or 208 and get off at Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, immediately outside the museum.

Nearest station

Shichijo

Checked against official information on 2026-10-28. Details change, so check the official website before you go.

Sources: Kyoto National Museum: Hours, Closures, and Admission, Kyoto National Museum: Access, Kyoto National Museum: Buildings and Facilities

Pochikichi's story corner

Why was Kyoto's great museum founded to protect the treasures of temples and shrines?

The Meiji Restoration changed Kyoto profoundly. With the center of government moving to Tokyo, religious institutions faced new economic pressures and government policies. The preservation of centuries-old Buddhist sculptures, paintings, ritual objects, and other treasures became an increasingly urgent concern. In 1889, a national system was established for imperial museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara. In Kyoto, a site in the Shichijo area was selected for a museum dedicated to collecting, protecting, studying, and displaying cultural heritage.

The Imperial Kyoto Museum opened on May 1, 1897. Its main building was designed by Katayama Tokuma, an architect working for the Imperial Household Ministry. The red-brick structure incorporated French Renaissance and Baroque influences, creating a striking Western-style landmark in a city famous for temples and traditional architecture. In 1900, the institution was renamed the Kyoto Imperial Household Museum, eventually becoming Kyoto National Museum.

In 2014, the Heisei Chishinkan opened, designed by architect Taniguchi Yoshio. Most exhibitions are now held in this modern building, while the historic Meiji Kotokan is normally closed to the public. Yet the museum's original mission remains unchanged: to safeguard Kyoto's cultural heritage and make it accessible to new generations. Before entering the galleries, compare the two buildings facing one another, each expressing a different chapter in Japan's museum history.

Sources: Kyoto National Museum: Museum Profile, Kyoto National Museum: Buildings and Facilities, Kyoto National Museum: The Story of the Museum — Beginnings, Kyoto National Museum: The Story of the Museum — The Future

Long ago, around here

What was this area before the museum was built?

The museum occupies land formerly known as the Shichijo Imperial Estate. In 1890, the site of the former Kyomei Palace was selected for the new museum. The surrounding Higashiyama-Shichijo district had long been associated with religious institutions and the imperial family. Directly across the road stands Sanjusangen-do Temple, closely connected with the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa and the system of imperial cloistered rule. This historic concentration of temples and imperial heritage made the area a meaningful location for a museum dedicated to Kyoto's cultural treasures.

Construction of the museum's main building began in 1892 and was completed in 1895. Its Western-style red-brick architecture stood in striking contrast to the traditional Buddhist buildings nearby, capturing Kyoto's transformation during the Meiji era. Today, the museum gardens display stone Buddhist figures, architectural fragments, and other historic stone objects. As you walk along Shichijo Street, compare the architecture of Sanjusangen-do with the museum's red-brick facade.

Sources: Kyoto National Museum: Museum Profile, Kyoto National Museum: Buildings and Facilities, Kyoto National Museum: Outdoor Exhibits (Japanese)

Lesser-known things to discover

Meiji Kotokan

The red-brick museum building opened in 1897, designed by Katayama Tokuma. It is an Important Cultural Property, although it is not currently used for exhibitions.

Heisei Chishinkan

The modern exhibition building designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and opened in 2014. Its clean lines and carefully controlled natural light create an elegant setting for cultural treasures.

Rodin's The Thinker

A cast of Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture stands near the fountain in front of Meiji Kotokan, creating a memorable contrast with the historic red-brick facade.

Stone Objects in the West Garden

Buddhist stone sculptures, foundation stones, bridge pillars, and other objects reveal how architectural fragments can become museum exhibits.

East Garden

Historic stone objects from the Korean Peninsula are displayed here, offering a perspective on the cultural connections between Japan and the wider East Asian world.

Sources: Kyoto National Museum: Buildings and Facilities, Kyoto National Museum: Outdoor Exhibits (Japanese)

Through the seasons

Spring

The museum has announced a garden-only opening period from March 24 to April 18, 2027.

Summer

The Collection Galleries were open from July 14 to September 6, 2026.

Autumn

The special exhibition The Tale of Genji: The Splendor of the Imperial Court runs from October 6 to November 29, 2026.

Winter

Collection Gallery opening periods are scheduled for December 22–27, 2026, and January 2–March 22, 2027.

Good to know before you go

• During special exhibitions, it is not possible to purchase admission to the Collection Galleries alone.
• During garden-only opening periods, the exhibition galleries are closed.
• Meiji Kotokan is not currently used for exhibitions because of plans for seismic isolation improvements and other renovation work.
• Opening hours and admission charges differ between special exhibitions and regular Collection Gallery periods.
• Floor maps of Heisei Chishinkan are available in several languages, including English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.

Events nearby

• A

  Art exhibition

  Special Exhibition: The Tale of Genji — Splendor of the Imperial Court at Kyoto National Museum

  Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing (Shichijo Sta.)

  

  Oct 6 (Tue) – Nov 29 (Sun) 09:00 – 17:30

  Adults ¥2,200; university students ¥1,200; high school students ¥700; junior high school students and younger free

  Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. A major rotation of exhibits takes place on November 3. The National Treasure Tale of Genji Scrolls will be displayed during different periods depending on the scenes.

  Details →
• A

  Art exhibition

  New Year Special Exhibition: All About Sheep — Celebrating the Zodiac at Kyoto National Museum

  Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Gallery 2F-2 (Shichijo Sta.)

  

  Dec 22 (Tue) – Feb 7 (Sun) 09:30 – 17:00

  Adults ¥700; university students ¥350; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 and over free

  Discover cultural treasures featuring sheep, the zodiac animal of 2027. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. The same admission ticket provides access to all exhibitions in the Heisei Chishinkan Wing on the day of your visit.

  Details →
• A

  Art exhibition

  Special Feature: Tea Utensils and Their Accompaniments (Kyoto National Museum)

  Kyoto National Museum (Shichijo Sta.)

  Dec 22 (Tue) – Mar 22 (Mon) 9:30 – 17:00 (Fridays until 20:00); last entry 30 min before closing

  General ¥700, university students ¥350; free for high school and under, under 18 and 70+

  A feature exhibition of tea utensils with their boxes, pouches and other accompaniments. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays; last entry 30 minutes before closing.

  Details →
• S

  Festival & seasonal event

  Chisan Momijitsuki: Autumn Leaves Light-up at Chishakuin

  Chishakuin Temple (Shichijo Sta.)

  Nov 7 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 17:00 – 21:00

  General 1,500 yen; age 12 and under free

  A new autumn light-up at Chishakuin, head temple of the Chisan school of Shingon Buddhism. Colored maples are joined by 3,000 bamboo lanterns filling the grounds and a sea of mist clouds, created by the team behind Arashiyama Tsukitoro and Toji Tsukikairo. Last entry 8:40 PM; tickets on sale daily from 5:00 PM on the grounds.

  Details →
• A

  Art exhibition

  Kyoto Special Opening of Cultural Properties: Kushoin, a sub-temple of Kenninji

  Kushoin (Kenninji sub-temple) (Gion-Shijo Sta.)

  Nov 13 (Fri) – Nov 30 (Mon) Last entry 16:00

  Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school students 500 yen (elementary age and under free with a guardian)

  This Kenninji sub-temple opens for the autumn special openings: the abbot's hall and its garden, a statue of founder Sanko Shoeki, the study hall Koshoken, the tea room Enshu Betsugonoseki, and a painting of the Battle of Nagashino by Ukita Ikkei. About 8 minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan line.

  Details →
• S

  Festival & seasonal event

  Autumn Special Night Viewing at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

  Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kiyomizu-Gojo Sta.)

  

  Nov 21 (Sat) – Nov 30 (Mon) 17:30 – 21:30

  ¥500

  Special evening viewing with illuminated autumn foliage in Kin'un Gorge and the National Treasure Main Hall. Last admission at 9:00 PM; gates close at 9:30 PM.

  Details →

FAQ

What is Kyoto National Museum?

Kyoto National Museum opened in 1897 to preserve and share the cultural treasures held by the old capital's temples and shrines. Its French-inspired red-brick Meiji Kotokan faces the modern Heisei Chishinkan gallery designed by architect Taniguchi Yoshio. From Buddhist sculptures and painted scrolls to ceramics and textiles, the museum reveals what Kyoto's artists created and what successive generations chose to preserve.

Hours at Kyoto National Museum?

During Heisei Chishinkan Collection Gallery and garden-only periods: 9:30–17:00, Fridays 9:30–20:00. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Special exhibition October 6–November 29, 2026: 9:00–17:30, Fridays 9:00–20:00. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.

Closed at Kyoto National Museum?

Mondays (open on national holidays, closed the following Tuesday instead). Closed December 28, 2026–January 1, 2027. Additional temporary closures may apply.

Admission at Kyoto National Museum?

Collection Galleries: adults ¥700, university students ¥350; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 or older free. Garden-only admission: adults ¥300, university students ¥150; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 or older free. Special exhibition The Tale of Genji: The Splendor of the Imperial Court (October 6–November 29, 2026): adults ¥2,200, university students ¥1,200, high school students ¥700, junior high school students and younger free.

Access at Kyoto National Museum?

Approximately 7 minutes east on foot from Shichijo on the Keihan Main Line. From Kyoto, take Kyoto City Bus 206 or 208 and get off at Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, immediately outside the museum.

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